Ontario Community Newspapers

Oakville Beaver, 20 Apr 2023, p. 7

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DOWN TO EARTH WHAT OUR EDUCATION CURRICULUM SAYS ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT: MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, SCHOOL BOARDS AND SCHOOLS ALL PLAY ROLE IN LEARNING ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT BRETT GLOVER bglover@metroland.com Classrooms across the province will hold Earth Day-themed events and ac- tivities to mark the annual environmental celebra- But what's being taught about the environ- ment during the rest of the school yeai Ontario's s seducation cur- riculum lays out, in broad strokes, everything that's supposed to be taught in chools, and i rst Grafted i in 2009. cording to this frame- work, “nvironmental edu- cation is integrated into all grades and all subjects, as appropriate. While envi- ronmental education can relate explicitly to subjects surroun science, tech- nology, social studies or even history, it would be a lenge to include it in other fields. For example, elementa- ry French teachers are en- couraged to seek out texts mation on environmental matters. This is highlight- ed through the Ministry of Education's Acting Today, Shaping Tomorrow docu- ment, a policy framework for environmental educa- tion in Ontario schools, about top- ics, enabling students to learn the language as they glean information about other issues and topics im- pacting their world. It's suggested that phys-ed teachers include natural environments in a school's D0 Gis" vicinity to encourage envi- ronmental education. At the high school level, rama students are en- couraged to use their craft to comment on environ- mental or social issues. Business studies students may be taught the environ- mental impacts of various industrial practices. ie framework states there i isno universal model for the implementation of environmental education, but while there's an overall agreement on principles and concepts, most specific goals are defined locally by school boards or schools The Ministry of Education sets the environmental Metroland file photo education policy, but it is up to the school boards and individual schools to put the policies in practice. themselves. s a result, environ. mental education may look different at each school you could visit, but the underlying message is the same. For example, Grade 8 students at Viola Desmond Public School in Milton planted seeds to learn how Public School ventured out to Warsaw Outdoor Educa- tion Centre earlier this month. iso ingrained in the ministry's policy is the no- tion that environmental © 8 education is a shared re- 3 sponsibility that doesn't 3 end when students leave 2 the classroom. Hen families ld = see initiatives that a 8 age environmental consid- 8 erations at home. 8 Students at Barrie's Al- gonquin Ridge Elementary School may participate ina litterless lunch day, when families are encouraged to pack lunches that produce Mississauga's Churchill Meadows Public School re- cently celebrated Walk to School Month, encourag- ing active transportation and lessening one's carbon footprint While, the Ministry of Education puts policies in place, families are encour- aged to contact their child's school with any questions or concerns about environ- mental education practices in the classroom. Wednesday, May 10, 2023 P/ Oakville Centre forthe Performing Arts ™ It is time to celebrate goodness! Join us for this special evening as we say THANK ‘OU to our generous donors and supporters and celebrate KSM's stories of hope. It will be a night of fun with guests Geri Hall and Gary Pearson performing an excerpt from their sold-out “Middle Raged” Show. Get your tickets now at kerrstreet.com/liveonkerr or scan the code ln 2 if SW Kerr Street Mission woo'uoyeyepIsul

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